LAS VEGAS KLAS — Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson announced that his office will refile charges against Nathan Chasing Horse, following the Nevada Supreme Court’s dismissal of the case earlier today.
Wolfson described the court’s ruling as a minor setback, emphasizing that they would seek to present the case to the grand jury again within weeks.
Chasing Horse, known for his role in Dances with Wolves, faces 18 counts related to allegations of sexual abuse against two women, one of whom was underage at the time of the alleged offenses.
Prosecutors claim he victimized Indigenous girls and women for nearly two decades.
Wolfson expressed disappointment but respect for the court’s decision, stating, This shouldn’t cause too much of an interruption in our efforts to seek justice.
He added that the victims in the case have indicated their willingness to continue cooperating.
The Nevada Supreme Court’s dismissal was based on three main issues: flaws in how prosecutors handled the case and procedural errors by a district court judge.
The court noted that grooming, a term referring to a predator’s manipulative care of a victim, is not defined as a crime under Nevada law.
Consequently, the prosecution’s inclusion of this concept in their instructions to the grand jury was deemed erroneous.
Additionally, prosecutors failed to present exculpatory evidence, including inconsistencies in the statements of an alleged victim.
In its ruling, the court stated that the district court had “manifestly abused its discretion by denying the pretrial habeas petition, leading to the dismissal of the indictment.
However, the ruling allows prosecutors to seek another indictment, provided they rectify the identified errors.
The decision has impacted the alleged victims deeply. Melissa Leone, mother of one of the victims, shared that her daughter is feeling defeated yet hopeful.
We are still going forward, Leone stated. Sierra Begaye, another alleged victim, called the dismissal shocking but remains optimistic about the potential for justice.
Begaye’s mother, Lynette Adams, articulated the family’s perspective, stating, “This ruling allows for exactly that—a renewed chance to make things right.
Adams emphasized the importance of thoroughly considering the experiences of the victims and ensuring that justice is pursued with integrity.
As of now, Chasing Horse remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center and has declined to comment through his public defender, Kristy Holston.
This case is just one of several facing Chasing Horse, who also has federal charges and warrants in Montana and Canada.